Risk Evaluation of Pollutants Emission from Coal and Coal Waste Combustion Plants and Environmental Impact of Fly Ash Landfilling.

Emission factors (EFs) of gaseous pollutants, particulate matter, certain harmful trace elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three thermal power plants (TPPs) and semi-industrial fluidized bed boiler (FBB) were compared. EFs of particulate matter, trace elements (except Cd and Pb), benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene exceed the upper limits specified in the EMEP inventory guidebook for all combustion facilities. The comparison of trace elements and PAHs content in fly ashes (FAs) from lignite and coal waste combustion in TPPs and FBB, respectively, as well as the potential environmental impact of FAs disposal, was performed by employing a set of ecological indicators such as crustal enrichment factor, risk assessment code, risk indices for trace elements, and benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration for PAHs. Sequential analysis shows that the trace elements portion is the lowest for water-soluble and exchangeable fractions. The highest enrichment levels in FAs are noticed for As and Hg. Based on toxic trace elements content, FAs from TPPs represent a very high ecological risk, whereas fly ash from FBB poses a moderate ecological risk but has the highest benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration, indicating its increased carcinogenic potential. Lead isotope ratios for Serbian coals and FAs can contribute to a lead pollution global database.

Coagulation status and the presence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism is a relevant social and health care problem because of its high incidence among patients who undergo surgery (20-30% after general surgical operations and 50-75% after orthopedic procedures), its pulmonary embolism-related mortality rate, and its long-term sequelae (postthrombotic syndrome and ulceration), which may be disabling. This study aimed to determine the coagulation status and the presence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing laparoscopic (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC). METHODS: Prospectively, 114 patients were randomized into two groups. group 1 (58 patients undergoing LC) and group 2 (56 patients who are undergoing OC). The coagulation parameters (prothrombin time [PT], partial thromboplastin time [PTT], D-dimer, prothrombin F1 + 2, antithrombin III, and factor VII) were monitored preoperatively and during the operation, then 24 and 72 h after the operation. The patients in both groups underwent color duplex scan examination preoperatively, then 3 and 7 days after surgery to establish the presence of DVT. None of the patients in either group received thrombosis prophylaxis. RESULTS: In the LC group, postoperative DVT developed in four patients (6.9%; in the calf veins of 3 patients and in the popliteal vein of 1 patient). In the OC group, nine patients (16.07%) had postoperative DVT (in the calf veins of 7 patients and in the popliteal and femoral veins of 2 patients). The plasma levels of monitored parameters in the patients of both groups were altered, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. For the patients in both groups who experienced DVT, only the decrease of factor VII had statistical significance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative DVT among the patients who underwent OC was higher than among the patients who underwent LC (p < 0.05). The decrease in factor VII among the patients who underwent surgery could be a potentially useful parameter indicating the patients at high risk for developing DVT.

Cortisol and immune measures in boars exposed to three-day administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adrenal stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on blood cortisol concentration and on circulating total and differential leukocyte counts during and in the 16 days after ACTH administration. Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were used. ACTH-treated animals (n = 7) were given ACTH intravenously at 10 microg/kg body mass for 3 days. A control group of animals (n = 7) received 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline intramuscularly. ACTH induced a highly significant increase (p>0.0001) in serum cortisol in treated boars. On the day after the last ACTH dose, the cortisol concentration was significantly higher, but the level of significance was lower than during ACTH administration (p>0.05). During ACTH treatment, a significant increase was recorded in total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (p>0.05 to p>0.0001), along with the increase in blood cortisol concentration, whereas percentage lymphocyte count showed a significant decrease. Lymphopenia disappeared upon cessation of treatment, but neutropenia developed in the week after treatment. On all three days of ACTH challenge, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly increased. An increase in eosinophil percentage was recorded on treatment days 1 and 2, whereas ACTH treatment had no effect on basophil percentage. In conclusion, three-day administration of ACTH to young boars during restraint caused effects similar to acute stress situations, as suggested by disappearance of the effects on immune function after the last drug dosage.

Primary omental liposarcoma presenting as an incarcerated inguinal hernia.

Herein, we present a case of primary liposarcoma of the omentum found in an incarcerated inguinal hernia in a 52-year-old male patient. The patient was admitted to our hospital in June 2000 with sudden onset of left-sided abdominal and groin pain of 12 hours' duration with a large, irreducible inguinal hernia. This was not associated with nausea or vomiting. An emergency operation was performed, and in the hernia sac the tumor, arising from the greater omentum, was found. After we opened the transversal fascia and peritoneum, the tumor was resected with a block of the greater omentum, and hernioplasty was performed using Shouldice's method. The histopathological diagnosis of resected tumor showed myxoid type liposarcoma. In the English medical literature, omental liposarcoma has never before been reported as the content of a hernia sac.

Oxidation of steroidal 5-en-3 beta-ols with Jones reagent in ether.

The two-phase oxidation of steroidal 5-en-3 beta-ol (via 5-en-3-ones) into corresponding 4-en-3,6-diones in diethyl ether with Jones reagent was investigated. It was found that the system Jones reagent/diethyl ether enables short reaction times and easy isolation of the obtained products. The exclusive abstraction of 4 alpha-hydrogen during oxidation, together with molecular mechanics (MM2), and semiempirical (PM3) calculations, suggest that boat conformation of ring A precedes the formation of corresponding radicals (or cations).

Oral health in SFR Yugoslavia in 1986.

A pilot oral health epidemiological survey using WHO assessment forms was conducted in Yugoslavia in the year 1986. The study population consisted of 2600 persons aged 6, 12, 15, 18, 35-44, and over 65 yr. The survey included 22 towns (11 developed and 11 underdeveloped) in the six Republics and two Provinces of Yugoslavia. The results showed the prevalence of dental caries in the Yugoslav population to be very high (98.7% in 12-yr-olds). The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF) scores were as follows: 6.1 at age 12 yr, 9.6 at age 15, 10.9 at age 18, 18.0 at age 35-44, and 28.0 in persons aged over 65 yr. Assessment of the periodontal status showed calculus to be the predominant disorder in the age groups 18 and 35-44 yr, while loss of sextants prevailed in persons aged over 65 yr.

Clinical trials needed to evaluate compression therapy in breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). Proposals from an expert group.

AIM: A mainstay of lymphedema management involves the use of compression therapy. Compression therapy application is variable at different levels of disease severity. Evidence is scant to direct clinicians in best practice regarding compression therapy use. Further, compression clinical trials are fragmented and poorly extrapolable to the greater population. An ideal construct for conducting clinical trials in regards to compression therapy will promote parallel global initiatives based on a standard research agenda. The purpose of this article is to review current evidence in practice regarding compression therapy for BCRL management and based on this evidence, offer an expert consensus recommendation for a research agenda and prescriptive trials. Recommendations herein focus solely on compression interventions. METHODS: This document represents the proceedings of a session organized by the International Compression Club (ICC) in June 2009 in Ponzano (Veneto, Italy). The purpose of the meeting was to enable a group of experts to discuss the existing evidence for compression treatment in breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) concentrating on areas where randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. RESULTS: The current body of research suggests efficacy of compression interventions in the treatment and management of lymphedema. However, studies to date have failed to adequately address various forms of compression therapy and their optimal application in BCRL. We offer recommendations for standardized compression research trials for prophylaxis of arm lymphedema and for the management of chronic BCRL. Suggestions are also made regarding; inclusion and exclusion criteria, measurement methodology and additional variables of interest for researchers to capture. CONCLUSION: This document should inform future research trials in compression therapy and serve as a guide to clinical researchers, industry researchers and lymphologists regarding the strengths, weaknesses and shortcomings of the current literature. By providing this construct for research trials, the authors aim to support evidence-based therapy interventions, promote a cohesive, standardized and informative body of literature to enhance clinical outcomes, improve the quality of future research trials, inform industry innovation and guide policy related to BCRL.